“Deference. More I cannot urge, to a young lady who has been at Madame La Blond’s. But I must not say more: for I should not deserve this,” extending her medal towards Miss Vincent, “were I to be the promoter of quarrels.”
Miss Vincent hastily caught the medal, broke the ribbon, and threw them across the room, exclaiming, “it is these baubles that make you so insolent!”
The young ladies with one accord flew to the medal. Miss Arden however, was the fortunate person. On securing it, and returning it to her companion, she said, “accept this symbol of peace from my hand, my dear friend. As for Miss Vincent, I just view her as the passengers in the mail coach viewed the fly, for she makes herself equally ridiculous.”
“It is a pity that Miss Vincent is the daughter of so brave a man!” cried Miss Cotton. “Who would suppose that one of our greatest heroes was her father!”
“Father! how vulgar!” returned Miss Russel. “Pray who is your papa, Miss Cotton, that you presume to give yourself these airs, and speak in this manner?”
“My papa, Miss Russel, is a plain country gentleman, and I may say with truth that he reigns in the hearts of his children, and has taught them to ‘honour and obey their father and their mother, that their days may be long in the land.’ But you fashionable young ladies, ‘who press to bear such haughty sway,’ are exempt from this code, for there is no express command to honour pas and mas.”
“I hope Mrs. Adair will never give another medal,” said Miss Damer.
“You deserved it,” cried Miss Cotton with warmth, “and I hope you will always be rewarded for excelling, in every thing you attempt.”
“A person must be envious indeed,” said Miss Arden, “who can for a moment feel hurt at another being rewarded!”
“Had they your temper,” cried Miss Cotton, “envy would indeed be unknown; but medals of merit, as they are styled, certainly create strife.”